Construction Update

September 10, 2008 (click here for photos)
(Polk County Newspaper Article)

On the afternoon of August 28, the Midwest Covenant Home in Stromsburg broke ground on what
will be a new facility expansion project. There will be approximately 3,500 square feet added to
expand the current dining room area on the south side of the building. The hope is to enhance the
dining experience for the residents and their families.

Along with the expanded dining space, there will be a formal family dining room to accommodate
special family events for individual residents. The residents and staff will also enjoy a new Social
Services Department office, which will place them much closer to the main entrance and much
more accessible to current residents, their families and potential new residents. One final touch-of home will be the new patio, equipped with patio furniture and a bar-b-q Grill.
Though the residents and staff will benefit the most from this expansion, they are planning to make
the new area available for community meetings, holiday parties, and other related types of events
and gatherings.

Midwest Covenant Home Administrator, Chris Young described the desire the Covenant Home has
to continue to look for ways to help the residents enjoy a comfortable, family-centered and home
atmosphere. The approach is to establish similar routines that parallel the experience of being in
your own home.

For a number of years the Midwest Covenant Home has adopted the Eden Alternative Philosophy.
The concept is to provide a welcoming, comfortable, family atmosphere that features lots of plants,
a few animals and regular visits from children. The desire is to enable those who live at the home
to find meaningful ways to live their lives and interact with others while being supported by care
givers who can manage and direct the necessary daily needs such as physical fitness, nutrition and
medications. The concept is to tie the package together in a way that family and friends all have a
welcoming place to interact similar to, if not better than, being at home.

Recently, the Board of Directors announced that the residents and staff had adopted a Bible verse
that they felt represented the home. From Joshua 24:15 reads “…as for me and my house, we will
serve the Lord”. Midwest Covenant Home Chaplain Willis Pauls offered a message to all with this
verse as the foundation. Pastor Pauls’ message was a challenge to us to always remember to
carryout the latter portion of that verse, “we will serve the Lord”, a challenge that the Board of
Directors and staff will meet head-on. Pastor Pauls concluded with a prayer to all those involved to
enjoy a safe working environment for the many months to come.

Many thanks were expressed at the Groundbreaking to members of the Board of Directors, both
past and present, for having the foresight to see the potential of Stromsburg and its residents to
sustain such a wonderful facility as Midwest Covenant Home is and has been. Troy Lindsley, Vice-
President of Midwest Covenant Home represented the Board of Directors and expressed his
support and that of the Board for this project and how fortunate the facility has been over the years
and how exciting it is looking into the future.

Additionally, all those presenting commended the dedicated staff of Midwest Covenant Home for
their commitment to quality in caring for the residents and their families and best wishes for a
successful expansion project.
A special request and reminder from the staff of the Midwest Covenant Home is that those family
members, guests or visitors to the facility anytime during the next several months of construction
pay special attention to the construction equipment, alternate entrances, safety notices, etc. This
will help everyone to remain safe while in or around the facility.

Click on the images below to enlarge.